Where were you?

I can remember exactly.  I had just started my second week of dental hygiene school at.  I was sitting in class with 28 of my awesome new girlfriends, learning the basics of teeth.  We were given a quick break, when suddenly, one of my classmates from Connecticut received a phone call from her aunt who lived in NYC and worked very close to the World Trade Center.  I can remember everyone chatting away, ignoring the fact that her cell phone had rang, until we heard her say, "What"  Are you kidding me?  Oh my gosh!  Oh my gosh!  Are you okay?"  Little did we know at that time that another plane was on it's way to strike.  I did not know what this meant, nor did anyone else for that matter, but I remember thinking that it was such a tragedy and new that things couldn't be good.  That was before I knew it was a terrorist attack. 
We continued class, but my classmates informed our professor that she had received the call and that she had to keep her phone on vibrate (this was before texting), because she had several family members in NYC.  Lo and behold, she did receive the second call with confirmation of a second plane and a terrorist attack.

Several of us went downtown for lunch to Huey's.  Downtown Memphis was like a ghost town.  Most all of the businesses, federal buildings etc. had closed.  It was like total evacuation.  We had two hours to spare, so we, out of boredom, walked to the Peabody Hotel only to find a lot of people sitting in the lobby watching tons of TVs that had been set up.  This was the first coverage that we got to see.  It was unbelievable.  Our country was in complete shock.  I have to admit that I was scared and just wanted to go home.  Our afternoon class was not cancelled, but I am pretty sure that no one's mind was on what it was supposed to be, so it may as well have been. 

On that day, our country was changed forever.  We were changed forever.  So many innocent lives were lost. Many husbands lost their wives, many wive lost their husbands, and many unborn children will never know know their fathers.  Lives of those who were prepared to die for others such as our first responders, were lost.  As an American, every time I see the footage of this tragedy, my heart breaks.  As the wife of a firefighter, I am always brought to tears.  What if we had been living there? What if E had been one of those?  Those were our American brothers and sisters, and those guys in turnouts, they were Erik's brothers.  I am honored to have such a hero in my life and every night, I pray for his protection.  I pray not only for his protection, but for my sweet brother-in-law, Cameron, as well...all of them, I pray for all of them!  I am lucky to have these two heroes in my life!  They are awesome.  Many of you have no idea what they do every day, what the see every day, and how this tragedy and others affects their hearts.

On this day, ten years ago, this nation UNDER GOD, was attacked, but not ruined, but united.  We will never forget!